Zatulin caused Pashinyan not to participate in ``Lazarev Club`` meeting by involvement in election campaign

ArmInfo. Do we view the ''Lazarev Club'' as a free platform for exchanging opinions? By today's meeting we want to establish some kind of club traditions,
including frank conversation and transparency for the media. On
November 30, the first deputy chairman of the Russian State Duma
Committee on CIS Affairs and Relations with Compatriots Konstantin
Zatulin, summing up the first session, told reporters in Yerevan on
the margins of the first plenary session of the Lazarev Club.

He stated that over 200 guests from politicians and experts to
journalists from Russia and Armenia were invited to participate in
this event.

"We invited everyone, despite the fact that we realized that not all
of them can accept it. But we wanted to avoid any reproach to our
address, especially in the context of the internal political
processes in Armenia, on the eve of the elections, that we give
preference to someone either. Then it all depends on the desires of
the participants, "he said.

At the same time, Zatulin added that the work of the meeting will
continue after the laying of wreaths at the memorial of the victims
of the Genocide. "We consider this an important step. Recall that the
First State Duma of the RA in 1995 recognized this Genocide, which
was not done by other states that have such interest around the
world, but cannot come off to recognize the Armenian Genocide in the
Ottoman Empire, having recognized the non-existent the famine of the
Ukrainian people is genocide - I mean the United States, "he said.
At the same time, the Russian parliamentarian stressed that during
tomorrow's club meeting they expect interesting discussions on
Nagorno-Karabakh with the participation of Artsakh President Bako
Sahakyan and others.

On the question of whether the office of the Prime Minister of
Armenia explained the absence of Pashinyan to the event, due to the
fact that he was also invited, Zatulin, in particular, said: "The
Prime Minister's office did not explain his absence, but we
understood that he was involved on election trips. Probably, that's
what explains, "he said.

At the same time, Zatulin reminded that invitations to participate in
the event were sent to all the presidents of Armenia, as well as to
the current leadership. He also informed that the Russian
participants of the event will be received tomorrow by Armenian
President Armen Sarkissian, immediately upon returning from a foreign
trip.